How Animals Build a Sense of Direction
On a remote island in the Indian Ocean, six closely watched bats took to the star-draped skies. As they flew across the seven-acre speck of
Category: Science
Two Twisty Shapes Resolve a Centuries-Old Topology Puzzle
Imagine if our skies were always filled with a thick layer of opaque clouds. With no way to see the stars, or to view our
Medieval ‘super ship’ found wrecked off Denmark is largest vessel of its kind
Divers have unearthed the largest cog shipwreck ever discovered in a strait off Denmark, signalling a period of economic development in medieval Europe.
Ever watched a pet cow pick up a broom and scratch herself with it? You have now
A pet cow in Austria started using a broom to scratch herself — the first ever documented case of bovine tool use.
Strange ‘missing link’ star system ‘fundamentally changes’ our understanding of planet formation
A decade of observations of four planets around the young planetary system V1298 Tau revealed a rare, long-sought missing link in planet formation.
‘In Botanical Time’ explores the ways Earth’s oldest plants cheat death
Author Christopher Woods unpacks the science behind ancient plants’ longevity in a new book.
Early research hints at why women experience more severe gut pain than men do
A mouse study suggests estrogen may increase gut pain by activating specific cells, offering hints to why IBS is more common in women than in
‘Like watching a cosmic volcano erupt’: Scientists see monster black hole ‘reborn’ after 100 million years
Scientists saw an inactive black hole ‘reawaken’ from a 100-million-year nap with fire and fury.
Color blindness linked to lower bladder cancer survival, early study hints
People with color blindness may be less able to spot an early sign of bladder cancer, making them likelier to be diagnosed later, a study
Tiny improvements in sleep, nutrition and exercise could significantly extend lifespan, study suggests
Combining small improvements to several areas of well-being could lead to bigger health gains than improving just one in isolation, a new study suggests.
James Webb telescope spies rare ‘goddess of dawn’ supernova from the early universe
An extremely early Type II supernova explosion, named after the Titan goddess of dawn in Greek mythology, occurred just 1 billion years after the Big
Earth hit by biggest ‘solar radiation storm’ in 23 years, triggering Northern Lights as far as Southern California
Earth’s magnetic field was struck by a “severe” solar storm yesterday (Jan. 19), triggering vibrant auroras in the U.S. and large parts of Europe. The
There’s life beneath the snow, but it’s at risk of melting away
An array of animals and plants survive winter in the subnivium, nature’s igloo. But climate change is threatening this hidden seasonal ecosystem.
This detached hand robot has a thing for skittering on its fingertips
The robot can bend, grasp and carry in ways humans can’t, which could help it navigate spaces too confined for human arms.